RIYADH — The Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) has completed procedures for awarding contracts to import the third batch of wheat for the year 2020, with a quantity of 655,000 tons from the countries of the European Union, Black Sea, Australia, as well as from South America and North America except Canada. SAGO Governor Ahmed Al-Faris said that the contract for this batch of import comes within the framework of covering the local demand for wheat and preserving its strategic reserves. The shipment of the third portion of wheat will arrive on board 11 ships during the period between July and August this year. These include six ships, which will arrive at Jeddah Islamic Port with a quantity of 360,000 tons, four ships at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with 240,000 tons, and one ship at Jazan Port with 55,000. Al-Faris said that tenders were invited from 23 international companies specialized in grain trade. A total of 19 companies submitted their tenders, and the contracts were awarded to those quoting the lowest price. Since the beginning of this year, SAGO has awarded contracts to import 775,000 tons of wheat, bringing the total quantities contracted this year after awarding this batch to about 31.4 million tons. The organization also started this month the season of local stocking of wheat for the second year in a row that aims to stock 700,000 tons.